Hoof-spreader



(No Model.)

' J. W. LINK 8v' A. E. WILGOX.

HOOP SPREADER.

No. 492,985. Patented Mar. '7, 1893.

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JUDGE W. LINK AND ALBERT E. WlLCOX, OF SINCLAIRVILLE, NEW YORK.

HOOF-SPREADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,985, dated March 7,1893.

l Application iiled August l1. 1892. Serial No. 442.760. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JUDGE W. LINK and ALBERT E. WILCOX, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Sinclairville, in the county of Chautauquaand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Hoof-Spreader, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hoof-spreaders and has for its object tosimplify the construction of devices of this character and to renderthem more efficient without increasing the cost and also making the samein such form that they can be easily and readily applied or detachedwhen desired, and with these objects in View the device consists of theconstruction and arrangement of the parts as will be more fullyhereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings-Figure lis a perspective View of the improved deviceshown applied. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device shown detached andthe several parts in reversed positions. Fig. 3 is a centrallongitudinal section of the shoe and spreader.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a horse shoe ofpreferred form of construction having a slot 2, in the upper side of thecentral toe portion thereof having a rear downwardly beveled wall 3merging into a front horizontally disposed straight shoulder 4,terminating in a vertical recess 5, with a rounded bottom 6.v A Y-shapedspreader 7, is employed in connection with the shoe and provided withspurs or spikes S, at the rear ends of the divergent legs 9, thereofwhich are formed with vertical shoulders 10, to reduce the dimension ofsaid spurs or spikes and also with horizontally arranged diagonalshoulders 1l, adapted to engage the inner edges of the heel portion ofthe shoe and retain the spreader in place and prevent an unlimitedexpansion of the same. The legs 9, converge at the front in advance ofthe inner front edge of the toe portion of the shoe and merge into astraight arm 12, formed by welding together or compressing this part ofthe spreader. This arm 12 is reduced in thickness on the under-side toprovide a straight horizontal recess 13, to fit over the straight`shoulder 4, heretofore set forth, and also constructed with a bevel 14,running off from the rear of said recess 13 to bear against the beveledwall 3 of the slot 2. The under front part of the arm 12, has a lug 15vertically depending therefrom with a lower rounded end and adapted totit into the recess 5. This form of construction provides a secure jointwhen the parts are united, but renders the separation of said parts easyand readilysattained when so desired.

It will be seen by means of the connection set forth, that the spreaderis held perfectly square with the frog of the foot and if only one sideof the hoof is out of shape the spreader will act only on said sidewithout injuring or misshaping the opposite side. The straight arm 12 islocated between the hoof and the shoe when the latter is applied to thehoof and thereby misplacement of the spreader is obviated.

A The spreader will be made in varying sizes, and in treating a hoof, asmall size will be used first for a few days when it will hold itself toplace and this replaced byalarger size when'shoes are again applied, andsuccessively changed in this manner if necessary until the hoof has beenspread to its normal shape.

It will be observed that the spreader herein set forth is limited in itsexpansive force, and after the inherent lateral pressure of each devicehas become expended, pressure on the aifected portion of the hoofceases, thereby avoiding inj ury consequent upon acontinuous and unequalpressure. The shape and location of the spurs or spikes 8, above thelegs 9 has the tendency to draw up into the hoof instead of outwardlyand thereby keep the spreader firmly in place. The spurs or spikes aremade square or of equilateral pyramidal shape and drawn to a perfectpoint.

Many other advantages will appear time to time to those using thedevice.

Having thus described our invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In adevice of the character set forth, the combination of a shoe having aslot in the inner front part of the toe portion thereof, and

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a Y-shaped spreader having spikes or spurs' on the spread ends thereofextending laterally outward at right angles thereto and provided with afront straight arm adapted to be removably iitted to said slot of theshoe, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a shoehaving a slot in the front part thereof with a rear beveled bottom Wallextending upward to a horizontal shoulder and terminating in a frontvertical recess, and a Y-shaped spreader having a straight arm with anunder recess and bevel and a depending lug to removably it said slot ofthe shoe, said spreader having spikes or spurs on the rear of the legsthereof, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a shoehaving a slot in the npper side of the toe portion thereof,` and aspreader having a front straight arm to engage said slot andspurslorfspikes at the rear ends of divergent legs thereof, andshoulders formed at the points from which said spurs or spikes extend toabut against the inner edges of the heel portions of said shoe and toJUDGE W. LINK. ALBERT E. WILCOX. Vitnesses:

ASHTON M. LYON, B. I1. LINK.

